Italy: At least 40 migrants found dead at sea, 300 others rescued from boat north of Libya

This image taken from video provided by the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, shows an Italian Navy RIB approaching a fishing boat crowded with migrants off the coast of Libya. At least 40 migrants died on Saturday in the hold of an overcrowded smuggling boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, apparently killed by fuel fumes. Some 320 others on the same boat were saved by the Italian navy, the rescue ship's commander said. Migrants by the tens of thousands are braving the perilous journey across the Mediterranean this year, hoping to reach Europe and be granted asylum. (Marina Militare via AP)
(The Associated Press)

This image taken from video provided by the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, shows an Italian Navy RIB approaching a fishing boat crowded with migrants off the coast of Libya. At least 40 migrants died on Saturday in the hold of an overcrowded smuggling boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, apparently killed by fuel fumes. Some 320 others on the same boat were saved by the Italian navy, the rescue ship's commander said. Migrants by the tens of thousands are braving the perilous journey across the Mediterranean this year, hoping to reach Europe and be granted asylum. (Marina Militare via AP)
(The Associated Press)

This image taken from video provided by the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, shows migrants boarding a navy vessel after being rescued from a fishing boat, off the coast of Libya. At least 40 migrants died on Saturday in the hold of an overcrowded smuggling boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, apparently killed by fuel fumes. Some 320 others on the same boat were saved by the Italian navy, the rescue ship's commander said. Migrants by the tens of thousands are braving the perilous journey across the Mediterranean this year, hoping to reach Europe and be granted asylum. (Marina Militare via AP)
(The Associated Press)

ROME – The Italian navy says at least 40 migrants have died at sea and some 300 others have been rescued in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya.

The navy said because the rescue was still ongoing Saturday it couldn't give exact numbers of dead and rescued. RaiNews24 TV, reporting from the Navy rescue coordination center in Rome, said the dead migrants were found in the hold of an overcrowded smugglers' boat.

Europe is on track to see a record number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.